The 5 issues with college football’s calendar, including one with ‘a lot of traction’

The College Football Playoff (CFP) has announced the dates for its quarterfinals and semifinals for the next two seasons, extending the season into late January and raising concerns among coaches about the increasing gap between playoff games. The scheduling decisions reflect broader tensions regarding the college football calendar, including potential changes to the transfer portal, high school signing period, and the start of the season.

One proposal gaining traction is moving the start of the college football season to Week 0, traditionally requiring an NCAA waiver, which would allow games to begin in late August. This shift could provide teams with an additional bye week, although concerns about summer heat remain.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning and Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks have expressed frustration with the current CFP format, particularly the long gaps between playoff games for teams with byes. Despite these concerns, the CFP schedule is set to maintain semifinals in mid-January, with quarterfinals on January 1, due to broadcast preferences by ESPN.

The early